Background
United  Cerebral Palsy (UCP) recently released the 2009 Case for Inclusion Report (www.ucp.org/medicaid),  ranking all 50 states and the District of Columbia for the Medicaid services  they provide to their Intellectual Disability/Developmental Disability populations. The  report finds that all states have room to improve outcomes and services for  individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. While too much money is still spent isolating people  in large institutions and waiting lists for services are increasing overall,  real and notable progress has been made year after year. "Still, too  often the goals of independence, productivity and community inclusion are at  odds with reality," said UCP CEO Stephen  Bennett.

The  top and bottom ten states in terms of quality of Medicaid service provided are:

Top 10 States

1.   Vermont
2.   Arizona
3.   Alaska
4.   New Hampshire
5.   Massachusetts
6.   Michigan
7.   California
8.   Hawaii
9.   Colorado
10. Connecticut

Bottom  10 States

42.  Indiana
43.  Tennessee
44.  Nebraska
45.  Ohio
46.  Louisiana
47.  Illinois
48.  Dist. of Columbia
49.  Texas
50.  Arkansas
51.  Mississippi

It is worth mentioning that five states shifted by at least five places in the rankings from 2008 to  2009, and 15 states shifted at least five places in the rankings from 2007 to  2009.

Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities are some of the most vulnerable Medicaid recipients. People with disabilities make up one percent of all Medicaid recipients, but a generous 10 percent of Medicaid spending. Too often actual program outcomes for Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not discussed or even considered, as part of Medicaid budget, cuts and spending debates.  This must change.  We can do better. We must do better.

Some other key findings of the report: 

Positively, there are 1,536 fewer Americans  living in large state institutions (more than 16 beds).  However, there remain 169 large institutions  (4 fewer) housing 36,175 Americans. 

Nine states – Alaska,  Hawaii, Maine,  New Hampshire, New Mexico,  Rhode Island, Vermont  and West Virginia, and the District of Columbia - have no large state  institutions.

Thirteen states have only one large state facility remaining. 

Fifteen states report having a residential  services waiting list so large that their programs would have to grow by at  least 25 percent to accommodate the need.

Take Action
Please take action today to encourage your state representative to express a condscious effort for people with disabilities. For community-based support and to decrease waiting lists in your state.  Together we can all make a difference in the lives of all people with disabilities.

>> Please use the form below and make sure to personalize your message for the most impact. <<

Please tell others about this action alert by spreading this link: http://www.lifewithoutlimits.org/Medicaid.